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Alex De Minaur

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Tennis News, Australia clean swept by Croatia 3-0 in Group D of the 2021 Davis Cup Finals at Pala Alpitour in Turin, Italy

by Sports Benches

It’s not been a great day in the office for Australia today in the 2021 Davis Cup Finals when they were clean swept by Croatia 3-0 during their first of two Group D encounters at Pala Alpitour in Turin, Italy.

Yes, that first game between Croatian Borna Gojo and Aussie Alexei Popyrin was really intense with really great battles from both players that gone down to the very end but it’s always Gojo who nailed Popyrin down first in straight sets (Final Score: 7-6 via 7-5 tiebreaker & 7-5).

Then we turn our attention to Marin Cilic & Alex De Minaur where De Minaur redeemed himself in the second set after a poor start earlier on, but unfortunately, he wasn’t able to hold off the win De Minaur wanted for Australia despite that early lead in the third set (Final Score: 6-1, 5-7, & 6-4).

And last but not least the doubles tie with Croatia (Nikola Mektic & Mate Pavic) being too good along the way here to wrap up a 3-0 whitewash v Australia (Alex De Minaur & John Peers), Australia might have the early fire off but just wasn’t able to produce the goods needed to hold Croatia back (Final Score: 6-3, 6-1).

With that being said Australia’s next encounter in Group D is Hungary on 8pm Saturday Night AEDT as they needed to smash something big & win all three ties via both singles & a doubles game
if an unlikely Quarter-Finals berth comes their way.

#DavisCup #Croatia #Australia #Tennis #PapaAlpitour #DavisCupFinals #BornaGojo #AlexeiPopyrin #MarinCilic #AlexDeMinaur #JohnPeers #NikolaMektic #MatePavic

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Tennis Australia News, Section 8 R3 of the 2021 Australian Open Singles Game: Fabio Fognini v Alex De Minaur

by Sports Benches

Fabio Fognini and Alex De Minaur went side by side to kick off this game at Margaret Court Arena. So things went steady between the two. Fognini was the first player to pull the lead away from De Minaur past the halfway mark. De Minaur did close the lead to Fognini 4-5.

But De Minaur just did not have enough time to sort out his conversion play. After a slow first half run where he would like to fix up after the break. As Fognini wins Stage 1 6-4. Nothing much has changed going into Stage 2. Where Fognini still just ahead of De Minaur in a bid to tie two straight mini wins. De Minaur on the other hand reported a lack of feel in the 1st & 2nd half play. And it has been a frustrating night so far for De Minaur. With Fognini once again firing on all corners for the Stage 2 win 6-3. The 33 year old Italian just needs one more stage win to set up a fourth round showdown.

Nothing much unfortunately changed without the control of De Minaur. When the Australian No.1 seed alone searched all night on ways to hold down Fognini. The solutions were not there when Fognini pulled off another big lead away off De Minaur. Progress at last was finally made when De Minaur began to fight back. Where Fognini made two double faults at the first match point attempt. As well as unable to get over the net during the 2nd time of asking. But it was still a big enough lead from Fognini to close out the win. The final score was done just over two hours of play at 6-4, 6-3, 6-4.

Bugger for De Minaur who tied his best result of Round 3 twice here from 2019 & 2021. There is fightback and courage at last. But just left it so late until the last minute. Where he was struggling with the fire off & conversion play mightly. And that kind of little to no momentum will leave him isolated. With time eventually ran out against him to repair the Stage 1 & 2 losses. De Minaur though should take those weaknesses & come back better next time.

While Fognini has dominated this game all night to connect the 1st & 2nd half performances. And marry up all three stage victories in straight sets. Where he turned this Round 3 tonight into his 4th round ticket. He will now meet Spainard Rafael Nadal who just beat Cameron Norrie from England. Norrie was originally from South Africa & used to fly with New Zealand colours. The other game scores are 7-5, 6-2 & 7-5. Well there is no Aussies now in the Men’s singles section now. But Ash Barty is still the lone Aussie in the women’s singles where she will face Shelby Rogers from USA.

Day 6 now done at the Australian Open and the first of the five days at least without fans. We are missing the fan crowd/atmosphere & the Jim Courier post-game interviews. Just like NASCAR on NBC refused to have a theme song last year with nobody. But the organisers have to follow the strict Government rules. So we do not get sick. We cannot wait for Day 7 though tomorrow on Valentines Day. Before the finals week begins in the next few days.

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2021 Australian Open, Section 8 of R2 Singles Game: Pablo Cuevas v Alex De Minaur

by Sports Benches

Pablo Cuevas and Alex De Minaur fired off side by side with the game at Margaret Court Arena. Where they were both on the same page at 2-2 apiece. But De Minaur took the first stage win with a comfortable 2nd half run that distanced the Uruguayan 6-3. In contrary to Cuevas who only made little gains simultaneously.

De Minaur continued the foundations that carried on from a successful Stage 1 portion. It took very little time to get himself ahead in the points tally. Having checked the halfway point without problems. Before the Aussie No.1 wrapped up a productive 2nd Stage 6-3. With two set wins taken now from De Minaur.

While Cuevas still unable to find the feel needed to catch up to De Minaur. The 2nd half of Stage 1 was the starting point of his fall in this game. And nothing much happened to find the middle ground throughout Stage 2. But Cuevas finally began a way to hold him back immediately after the break. In a bid to deny him a 3rd straight sets win. And give himself a lifeline towards a possible 4th stage.

The progress was there when Cuevas got ahead of De Minaur this time. Having checked the halfway point first. Before he was one point away from winning Stage 3 himself 5-3. But the only weakness Cuevas unable to puzzle is the conversion play. And it is something he fell short in the end. Where De Minaur turned himself around after a poor 1st half of this stage. Before he was on par with Cuevas and narrowly passed him to wrap this game in two hours 7-5. The final score at Margaret Court Arena is 3-6, 3-6 & 5-7. De Minaur will now meet Fabio Fognini in the third round. The Aussie No.1 will have a day off tomorrow. Then he will resume on Friday v the Italian. In the hope of going into the knockout finals week starting on Monday.

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2021 Australian Open News, Section 8 of Round 1 Match: Tennys Sandgren v Alex De Minaur

by Sports Benches

It has been a very close first stage battle right here at John Cain Arena. With American Tennys Sandgren side by side against Australian Alex De Minaur. Both men each won a point as they move up on the same page. Including just past the initial halfway point.

They just could not stop battling with oozes of energy approaching towards the end of Stage 1. With 55 minutes in section 8, first round tie of the 2021 Australian Open. But only one of them will have the early lead rather than shared with each other. Where De Minaur went up 6-5. Before the Australian No.1/overall World No.21 shuts down Sandgreen in a very close margin after the 1st set 7-5.

But Stage 2 changed its pace where De Minaur dominated this mini battle easily. Sandgreen might have registered a point lead earlier on with a fire off during the next run. The American just unable to keep up the momentum he fired back to De Minaur from the previous stage. De Minaur climbed up way ahead to pull further away from Sandgren 6-1. With little time to catch up in the end from Tennys.

And De Minaur went on to wrap up this game with three straight points win against Sandgren. Where Sandgren always have the base to give his opponent some beef. In which does benefit the plalyer himself. But unable to provide the conversions/executions needed to fight De Minaur all the way until the very end. As De Minaur found a very easy 2nd half to advance in Round 2. He will meet Pablo Cuevas from Uruguay who beat Andreas Seppi 6-4, 4-6, 6-2, 6-2. The final score is done just under two hours of 7-5, 6-1, 6-1.

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